Group considers plans for grant to combat infant mortality

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - A nonprofit organization has been awarded funding to help reduce the number of infant deaths in northwest Indiana.

Mental Health America of Lake County is considering how it plans to use the Safety PIN, or Protecting Indiana's Newborns, grant, the (Northwest Indiana) Times reported (http://bit.ly/2lb49Qf ) Saturday.

Mental Health America is set to receive $1.1 million over the next four years. The organization is guaranteed half the money and will get the rest if infant mortality falls in Lake and Porter counties by the end of 2018.

It held meetings Friday to discuss how it planned to spend the money and connect with other agencies that aim to keep babies alive.

Last year, Indiana awarded nearly $13 million to programs aimed at reducing the state's infant mortality rate.

The funding will help Mental Health America distribute sleep bundles, which are modeled after mattress-lined cardboard boxes designed to give infants a safe place to sleep.

The organization's Baby & Me Tobacco Free program also provides free diapers to women who quit smoking during their pregnancies. Studies show that smoking can cause low birth weights and harm a baby's lungs, heart and sleep arousal.

Free, one-hour safe sleep education classes also are offered to parents and caregivers. Free portable cribs are given to participants who complete the classes.

"Our goal here is for every pregnant woman in Lake County to be touched by our infant safe sleep program," said Victor Garcia, vice president of operations for Mental Health America of Lake County.

Garcia added that just because someone can afford a portable crib doesn't mean that person understands safe sleep for babies.

"The important piece of this is the education," he said.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com